November 2024

The speaker was Alison Fagan and her talk is titled From Kowhaiwhai to Tivaevae: a cultural journey through mathematics.

Alison Fagan has been a plant pathologist, an anatomy and physiology lecturer and a maths and science teacher. This led to roles as a mathematics curriculum developer for the Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands.

Her great interest is in making maths more accessible to girls and this led to her doing a masters in mathematics education through Massey University. Her thesis was on improving 3-dimensional spatial visualisation as she had found this was a particular difficulty for many girls. Her supervisor was Gordon Knight who had had analysed kowhaiwhai patterns and helped develop a teaching resource using them. In her talk Alison showed us how kowhaiwhai are made up of the rotation and/or reflection and/or translation of a core design element.

This also happens in tivaevae and this example is the one developed and sewn by Alison to be the background for the new curriculum, when she was employed to rewrite the mathematics curriculum for the Cook Islands.

The tivaevae pattern in the Cook Islands 2005 maths curriculum

Alison making the tivaeae above

Alison believes in developing a greater awareness and appreciation of the geometry around us.

 

October 2024

Our speaker was Lynne Blake and her talk was titled Bobbin Lace Making

Lynne’s interest in her genealogy or family history, and bobbin lace making started more than 40 years ago.

She talked about how an opportune visit to the South Island saw the start of an interest in her family history and her learning the craft of bobbin lace making.

She described the development of bobbin-lace making in general, and for herself, as well her family history.

September 2024

The speaker was Celine Kearney

And her talk was titled Southern Celts: A lived and told story.

Celine will introduce her book of interviews, Southern Celts: Stories from people of Irish and Scottish descent in Aotearoa. Published in 2023, the book was developed as part of her PhD (Philosophy of Education), awarded through Victoria University, in Melbourne (2010 -2016). Sharing her own family story, Celine will introduce the 22 interview narrators and briefly touch on some of the underpinning theories which informed the creation of the book.

Celine Kearney is the granddaughter of three Irish-born grandparents, and one born to an immigrant Irish family in Aotearoa. She is a teacher of English as an Additional Language to adult learners of migrant and refugee backgrounds, and international students. A former journalist, Celine has published two books of interviews and currently, as an applied linguist, writes academic articles based on her research.

August 2024

The speaker was Peter Gillies and his talk was titled: A Historical Walk Around Central Hamilton

In his own words, Peter describes the background to his talk: ‘I am a lifelong Hamiltonian, born and bred, who completed a history degree at Waikato University. Social history has always been an interest. I also have a particular interest in music. This talk has developed from being a volunteer at the museum taking historical walking tours around the city. These tours were developed by the museum’.

July 2024

Our speaker was Graeme Kitto and his talk was titled “Justices of the Peace for New Zealand”.

In his own words: ‘Education was my “business” after graduating from the University of Auckland and Auckland Secondary Teachers’ College. I began teaching in Otara before moving to Rarotonga, Te Kaha and Tolaga Bay.  I was on a teacher exchange in Ontario, Canada before being a school inspector briefly and then joining the Ministry of Education in Hamilton on its establishment in October 1989, retiring in 2010.  For 12 of those years I was on the committee of the NZ chapter of the Australia-New Zealand Education Law Association.

My community involvement has included:

• New Zealand Republic of Korea Friendship Society
• Kirikiriroa Marae including as a kaumatua for Te Kooti Rangatahi (Youth Court)
• Age Friendly Hamilton Steering Group
• Rotary Club of Fairfield
• St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, currently Parish Clerk
• Justice of the Peace – including being President of the Royal Federation of NZ Justices’ Associations 2014-2016.

June 2024

May 2024

Our speaker was Dr Michael Gurnsey, and his talk was titled:

Naval Records and Related Sources, 1944 – 1945, of Interest to the Family Historian

Michael has an interest in both genealogy and military history research and will discuss official and unofficial sources relating to naval operations that may be used in family history research. In particular, to coincide with the commemorations of WW2 D-Day Landings, he will explore the landings at Westkapelle (Operation Infatuate II) ) which was the code name given to an Anglo-Canadian operation in November 1944 during the Second World War to open the port of Antwerp in the Netherlands.  Official sources include documents, film, photographs and books.  Unofficial sources include newspaper articles, photographs, books and personal stories.  He will discuss the reliability of these sources and traps for the unwary.  He will provide some examples of how to resolve inconsistencies between sources. Michael will also discuss some uncommon documents relating to a particular Landing Craft Tank (LCT 996) which provide interesting information about what life was like aboard an LCT.

 

April 2024

March 2024

Our speaker was Jenny Peploe

Jenny Peploe gives specialist talks on downsizing and decluttering.  Often people can find making a start on a downsizing project quite overwhelming and because of that many people just don't make a start.  Others want to make a start, but struggle on where to start and how to tackle it.

So Jenny shares some tips and tricks to motivate you to get started.  This is an interesting and informative talk with lots of practical advice which we know you will enjoy.

If there is a particular thing that you are struggling with in terms of downsizing, please bring your issue/question along to the meeting for Jenny to assist you with.

February 2024

Our first speaker for 2024 is Susan Paris, School Journal Editor

Remember the old annuals? Bunty? Boy's Own? Girls' Crystal? Well the good news is annuals are back so your grandchildren can enjoy them too. Finally, something to compete with their phones!

Come and hear School Journal editor Susan Paris talk about her latest side project: Annual 3, a book published with the help of her business partner, Kate De Goldi. The pair's third annual is a New Zealand spin on the much-loved classic, with original content commissioned from some of our best authors and illustrators. Kids will find stories, comics, poetry, essays, recipes, crosswords, games, a song, and even a knitting pattern so they can knit their own brain! There's plenty of fun, but the annual editors are on a serious mission: to satisfy a young audience that's curious, discerning, and up for anything, with content that reflects the diversity of experience across Aotearoa New Zealand so they can reach as many readers as possible.

November 2023

Our speaker will be Harmen Van Weerden who has been involved with St John for over 35 years in both paid and volunteer management roles, lastly as the Property & Facilities Manager for 12 years before retiring in July 2020. I have continued to be involved as a volunteer on the Hamilton & Ngaaruawaahia Area Committee as the chair since September 2020. This has enabled me to have significant experiences and overviews of the organisation as the most trusted charity in New Zealand. St John provides services from operational ambulance services down to Penguins at the entry level of St John at 5-6 years of age, with a range of community and commercial services supporting the emergency and health needs of our communities. I have also worked at the St John Eye Hospital in East Jerusalem in 2012 where the foundation of the Order of St John was established some 1,000 years ago. Our modern day Order re-established in the mid 1800's with Queen Victoria and continues as a Royal Order to this day.

 

October 2023

Our speaker was Dr Ann McEwan, Heritage Consultancy Services Her presentation is titled ‘The Future of Heritage’
Dr Ann McEwan is an independent heritage consultant with a national practice. Born in Oamaru, which might be where the interest in architecture comes from, Ann studied at the University of Canterbury and lectured at the University of Waikato for ten years before setting up her own business. She has been writing an article for the Waikato Times’ history page since 2011 and is moving home to Christchurch next year.

For more details on the work Anne does, click HERE

For a recording of an interview with Ann on RNZ, click HERE

September 2023

Our speaker on 20th September was Richard von Sturmer.

He is a former Writer in Residence at Waikato University and will be speaking about his recently published book "Walking with Rocks, Dreaming with Rivers: My Year in the Waikato".

Richard von Sturmer is a New Zealand writer. He was born on Auckland’s North Shore in 1957. His recent books are the acclaimed memoir, This Explains Everything (Atuanui Press, 2016), Postcard Stories (Titus Books, 2019), Resonating Distances (Titus Books, 2022) and the recently published Walking with Rocks, Dreaming with Rivers: My Year in the Waikato (Titus Books, 2023). He is well-known for writing the lyrics of ‘There is No Depression in New Zealand,’ which has become the country’s alternate national anthem.

In 2020 he was the University of Waikato’s writer in residence. During his residency he explored the Waikato region, writing on its towns and geographic features. The result is now a book, Walking with Rocks, Dreaming with Rivers: My Year in the Waikato.

‘This beautiful object, this dream set down on paper, is travel writing regained, and put to rights. The first person invested in it is the reader. You are about to go on a journey. You are in good hands: great travel writing picks you up and swings you along like luggage.’ – Steve Braunias

‘An extraordinary meditation on settings across the Waikato – museums where he’s the only visitor, lifestyle blocks where “you can feel history evaporating,” lakes where the only images reflected are clouds.’ – Tracey Slaughter

Click HERE for a 2023 RNZ interview with Richard about his Waikato book.

The Waikato book is available from Poppies Hamilton, click HERE

August 2023

Our speaker was Dave Owen aka Space Dave from the Te Awamutu Space Centre at Kihikihi. Dave will share his passion for space and astronomy with us. Click HERE for more information

July 2023

At our July meeting, our speaker was Viv Leonard, on the topic of Antiques.
Viv is the proprietor of Arkwrights Antiques in Paeroa and she will share her knowledge of old items of interest with us.

June 2023

At our June meeting, our guest speaker was Dr Richard Vipond who is a Medical Officer of Health with Te Whatu Ora Waikato.
His presentation focused on his research findings in relation to the Delta variant of the Covid epidemic.
He has worked across DHB incident management team, regional Covid response, National response and working groups, and Waikato incident management including managed isolation facilities, developing close working relationships across multiple sectors. Waikato Delta response (Oct 2021 to Jan 2022) was the peak of the Waikato public health service response, following the Waikato Way - Manaakitanga, mahi tahi, and kawea ake.

May 2023

Our guest speaker was Fiona George from the NZ Red Cross. Fiona George is an ex-bank manager who has found her passion working in the not- for-profit sector. She is very proud to work for the largest humanitarian organisation in the world and being part of “Doing Good” in the world. Fiona was living in Christchurch for 20 years including during the Canterbury earthquakes. She talked about the formation of the Red Cross by Henri Dunant in 1863 right up to current times with the NZ Red Cross helping  those effected by Cyclone Gabrielle.

The NZ Red Cross website has information about their hazard app, volunteering, first aid courses and meals-on-wheels:

https://www.redcross.org.nz/

April 2023

At the April 2023 meeting, our guest speaker was Ellie Wilkinson who is the Community Development and Support partner for the Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust, with oversight of the key services which support the successful settlement of migrants and refugee communities in Hamilton. Ellie is also the chair person for Te Whare O Te Ata - the Fairfield community house - which is based at the refurnished community hall on Fairfield Park. She spoke of her and the team's work with migrants and refugees at the start of their living in Aotearoa and Kirikiriroa.

If you are interested in this topic, a good read is the book by one of the Tampa refugees Abbas-Nazari:

https://www.allenandunwin.co.nz/browse/book/Abbas-Nazari-After-the-Tampa-9781991006530/

March 2023

At the March 2023 meeting, our guest speakers were Sandra and Barry Payne, two adventurous Third Agers. In 2019, Sandra and Barry completed an adventure of a 58,945km round-the-world trip in a single-engine, four-seater Piper Comanche, registration mark ZK-BAZ. Also known also as The Bazflyers, they are New Zealand’s first official Earthrounders – a term for pilots who circumnavigate the planet. The trip lasted 6 months, from April to October, 2019.

For further reading on their adventures, click HERE to go to the Online Learning posting.

February 2023

Our guest speaker in February was Ross Hargood who updated us on the development of the new regional theatre at the southern end of Victoria St. Ross is an experienced engineer and construction manager and Chairperson of the Waikato Regional Property Trust, which was established four years ago to ultimately own both the Theatre and its operating company. For further information on the theatre and its development click HERE for the posting in our U3A online blog.